The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1887-03-10
DEATH OF HENRY W ARD
BEECHER.

Rev Henry Ward Bctcher, the greatest
Of American preachers fell on Sleep and
was not. for God took him Tuesday
morning Of this week. He was born IN
1878 -6rf a race of intellectual giants
himself head taller il requirement and
aoilty than any Of his name. The his
tory of his life is too fresh in the mind Of
every well Informed reader to call for an
extended sketch. The story OF hi, q
rcer IS the story Of the most eNctin-,
period OF our national history. He vas 4
pronounced and earnest advocate Of tAe
abolition Of slavery aud, next 70 Wen Tell
Philips did more 10 fire the Northern
heart than any other man. Plymouth
eaurch WAS the cradle of abolition and
II ul> Ward BeecheT ros ked the cradle
When he war closed it found him I, strong
Republican and although he was a preach
er he was outspoken III his political as
we'll as his religious convictions He con
tinued an avowed, active Republican un
I'll the corruption Of that parry and lt>
policy of insisting upon protective tariff
drove him away from Ii. And when he
could no longer rend.r faithful allegiance
TO the party which he had helped TO make
ne had the courage aud the manlineos 70
stand up before all the world and give his
reasons for refusing longer TO be mum
bered in its ranks. He was a manly
honest man, and no factor entered more
largely INTO the election Of Mr.. Cleveland
tnan Mr.. Beechers hearty support. The
South had no love for Mr. Beecher and
no cause to love him-during the day,
preceding and following the war Its in
stitution n-slavery-was the special object
of his denunciatlou. He sought and
afterwards effected the abolition Of slave
ry and was cordially hated for i, and even
yet there are good people among Us who
nave not forgiven him and who some years
ago We're glad to believe him guilty of
crime for which. if guilty, he merited the
condemnation Of all good men. But he
had been for upwards Of ten years pre-
viOu> to de. tn The best and most sincere
friend OF the South of all the fellowship Of
abpiitIonIetS. When the war closed and
to it, professions Of lpyaltyto the old flag,
h. quit fighting He was implied in his
fiat against slavery by his belief that
slavery was a sin. From his standpoint.
from the convictions that had burned
them> Ives into the very fibre Of his soul
by education and surroundings, there was
~ line of action open to Il man endowed
with his great comDative qualities but to
fight slavery and to fight 1t to the death.
lie Was aS sincere in his belief that slavery
was J. SIN a, General Lee was that it was a
sin for Mort htrn abOlItionistS to bring on
IA war. But when The cruel war was over
and the country had passed through the
terrible >cpur-Iug days OF reconstruction,
Henry Ward Beech. began TO learn that
the South was a great section and Its peO-
pie q true people. Since 1876 he has not
opened his mouth against the South, but
often to speak its praises.
A great preacher, a wonderful orator,
philosopher, an editor, an author, man
Of gigantic brain power, his place in his
tory Will be second to that of no divine
born on American soil His honor is the
honor of the nation; his wo k the common
heritage of US all He was bltst with all
his country's honors and after long life.
crowded with such @r at and diverse work
as he accomplished, it is fitting that only
what was good in his life be remembered.
''Light be the sod which rests upon his
breast; green be the grass that grows
upon his grave; eternal be the laurcls that
flourish round his tomb.